His and Hers Impeachments

Bill Clinton did some terrible things as president.  If there were ever any doubts that he violated the dignity of the Oval Office, by now they should have been dispelled.  Not only did he receive fellatio from Monica Lewinsky while on the phone with foreign leaders, but he engaged in sexual relations with others under similar circumstances.

Despite all this, the “move-on” campaign was amazingly effective.  In addition to convincing the public that impeachment was unnecessary, it helped convert him into an endearing public figure.  Despite his sleazy behavior and subsequent avarice, today he is widely regarded as an affable statesman.

His wife Hillary has not been so fortunate.  She is generally considered dishonest and corrupt.  Obviously, many fewer people love her than him.  Whether she is more deceitful than he is an open to debate; nevertheless she has a meaner persona.

What does this portend if she is elected president?  Although FBI Director James Comey has reopened the case against her for violation of national security interests, this issue will not be settled before the election.

So what if she wins?  Will president Barack Obama pardon her prospectively?  Will he declare that whatever subsequent evidence shows, she will not be prosecuted?  Does he, in fact, have the power to make such a move?  And if he does, can he make it stick?

Let us say he does, can non-federal government players be prevented from additional sleuthing?  What if further emails allow these investigators to put together an airtight case?  Perhaps a state or municipal prosecutor might take it to court.  Yet is this legal?

In any event, a president Hillary Clinton would govern under a cloud.  Her legitimacy would be questioned and hence her mandate would be non-existent.  It has even been suggested that the media would turn against her.  Although they have been among her stoutest defenders, without a Republican candidate to pillory would they turn on her?

Then there is the question about whether she can be impeached.  Can she be brought before the Senate for a trial over high crimes and misdemeanors that occurred before she took office?  Hmmm.  What if a president committed murder prior to election?  Would this be grounds for an impeachment?  Who knows?

But let us assume that an indictment was lodged.  Let us further assume a Republican House voted to carry the impeachment forward.  What would happen in the Senate?  Let us further assume that Republicans maintain a narrow majority in this body.

Richard Nixon decided to resign as president when he learned that many in his party would vote against him.  Obviously that did not occur with Bill Clinton.  Democrats rallied around him and so he was spared defeat.  Would they rally around Hillary?  Remember she is less well loved.

But if they did and it was impossible to muster a two thirds vote to convict, how could Hillary govern thereafter?  Already mistrusted, would her influence be so compromised that she had to capitulate to the slightest resistance?

Or what if she was ousted and Tim Kaine became president.  I remember when Sadat took over from Nasser in Egypt.  He was thought to be a non-entity, but proved to be a decisive leader.  Would Kaine rise to the challenge?  In light of what we have thus far seen that is questionable.

So where does this leave us?  Are there any good options if Hillary Clinton prevails this Tuesday?  Her supporters seem poised to follow wherever she leads.  They have demonstrated that they find blatant dishonesty no deterrent.

But what of the rest of us?  How will we endure what promises to be a constitutional crisis?  Does this mean that Trump is inevitable?  Here too we are confronted with a bevy of uncertainties.

First, it is not altogether clear that he can beat Hillary.  Second, it is not certain he can govern effectively.  Even so, it appears to this observer that going with Trump is the lesser of two evils.  He might actually turn out to be a better president than his detractors suppose.  After all, Ronald Reagan turned out fairly well.

Melvyn L. Fein, Ph.D.

Professor of Sociology

Kennesaw State University